Stapling mechanism for rotary printing machines



Dec. 5, 1944. A. M. ZUCKERMAN STAPLING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTINGMACHINES Filed June 24, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Adolph MluarermanATTORNEY 1944- A. M. ZUCKERMAN 2,354,504

STAPLING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed June 24,1942 4Sheets-Sheet 2 67 45 42 r 5/ 5g 55 A 50 2a 3 l 3 W3 I 5/ 50 27 %A 40 25I 30 38 I v 26 :1 28 33 i J, 1, I r 30 5 35 x INVENTOR Adolph MZuqrerman BY ATTORNEY 1944- r A. M. ZUCKERMAN 2,354,504

STAPLING' MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1942 4Sheets-Sheet 3 2/ I I INIIENTOR Adolph MZuarerma n ATTORNEY Dec. 5,1944. A. M. ZUCKERMAN 2,364,504

STAPLING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Alla/pl: MZuckerm BYATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1944 STAPLING MECHANISM FOR norAaY PRINTINGMACHINES Adolph M. Zuckerman, New York, N. Y., assignor to It. Hoe &00., Inc., New York,

poration of New York 7 Application June 24, 1942, Serial No. 448,282

9 Claims.

This invention relates to stapling mechanism for rotary printingmachines, and more particularly to improvements to the class of staplingmechanism in which the staple inserting means travels in the directionof travel of the material to be stapled, and moves to the stapleinserting point in the operation of carrying the staple intopredetermined position relativeto the material for its insertiontherein, the staple carrying means coacting with a clinching device on acooperating cylinder in setting the staples in associated sheets of thematerial, to thus producea bound book-like product without interruptingthe speed of travel of the material from which the product is formed.

In stapling mechanism of this type heretofore employed, a plurality ofwire feeders or feeding heads are arranged in alignment longitudinallyor axially of the stapling cylinder. A predetermined length of wire isfed to the staple forming means from each feeding head, and the stapleis then formed and conveyed circumferentially of the stapling cylinderalong an arcuate staple guide or horn to the staple setting point. Thisnecessitates the staples being placed a distance apart longitudinally ofthe stapling cylinder, that is frequently in excess of the distancepermitted by space available when stapling small products.

An object of this invention is to provide in a wire stapling mechanismfor rotary printing machines an improved construction and arrangementwhich will permit the insertion of staples in traveling productsrelatively close together longitudinally of the stapling cylinder, sothat a plurality of staples may be placed in a relaprovide improvedstapling mechanism for rotary printing machines in which the staples arefixed in associated products between a pair of cooperating cylinders,one of the cylinders and its operable components being arranged toreceive staple forming wire from a plurality of wire feeding headspositioned in cooperable relation with the cylinder and its stapleforming components; the wire feeding heads and their driving mechanismbeing arranged for such disposition with relation to the cylinder as topermit staples to be inserted into the materials of the products atrelatively short distances apart axially or longitudinally of thecooperating cylinders.

A further object of this invention is to provide for use in rotaryprinting machines an improved wire stapling mechanism having cocp- N.Y., a coreratlng stapling cylinders and other parts which incorporateimproved wire feeding drive instru- .mentalities which are constructedand arranged to so cooperate with the wire feeding mechanism of the wirefeeding heads as to permit the wire feeding heads to be locatedrelatively short dis tances apart longitudinally or axially of thestaproportionand minor details of construction may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyadvantages of the invention. For a complete disclosure of the invention,a detailed description thereof willnow be given in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a magazine press folder, showingthe improved stapling mechanism applied thereto, the supporting frame ofthe folder being omitted;

Figure 2 is a fragmental elevation depicting the cooperable stapling andclinching or die cylinders, the wire feeding mechanism and drive Htherefor;

Figure 3 is a developed or schematic view taken partly around thestapling cylinder, seen in the direction indicated by the arrow 3, inFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmental elevation of the stapling cylinder andcooperating staple forming components;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2 showing the stapleforming mechanism as seen on the line 5--5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a wire feeding head as seen' in thedirection of arrow 6 on Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a fragmantary sectional view, as seen on the line ll ofFigure 5.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts, thereis depicted a magazine press folder(Figure 1) which includes a cutting cylinder II that supports aplurality of conventional cutting knives II which project radially fromits peripheral portion. These knives cooperate with conventional cuttingabutments or blocks I2 carried around the periphery of a cooperatingcutting and transfer cylinder I3 to cut the web or webs into sheets ofthe required length. In the arrangement depicted, three cuttingpositions are arranged around the cooperating cutting cylinders, so thatdurlngeach revolution of 'these cylinders three cut-offs are produced,although it is understood that any other required number of cut-ofl'smay be provided for.

The cutting and transfer cylinder I3 is provided with conventionalrockable impaling pins I5 which convey the cut sheets around the cuttingand transfer cylinder to a collecting, folding and staple clinchingcylinder IS. The collecting cylinder I6 is provided with three sets ofconventional rockable lmpaling pins I1, which receive the sheets fromthe pins I5 and convey them around the cylinder I6 and deliver them to ajaw cylinder I8. In the preferred operation of the machine, thecollecting cylinder I6 collects four cut-offs before delivering thesheets to the jaw cylinder I 8.

A stapling cylinder I9 is operably supported bya rotatable shaft 20, andthis cylinder is positioned for cooperable engagement with thecollecting cylinder I 3 at a point operably prior to the engagement ofthe collecting cylinder I6 with the jaw cylinder I 3, in order to staplethe associated sheets before they reach the jaw cylinder. The staplingcylinder I9 and its cooperating staple forming and setting componentsare of the type disclosed in the United States Patent Number 2,026,135,granted December 31, 1935, on application of Joseph E. Meyer, but thestapling arrangement herein disclosed, incorporates improvedconstruction and arrangement over that shown in the Meyer patent, andprovides means for placing staples relatively close together in aproduct, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, wire feeding heads 2I and 2I' arearranged in circumferentially spaced relation around the staplingcylinder I8 and in spaced relation longitudinally of the cylinder. Asherein shown in Figure 3, the wire feeding heads are arranged in threerows. Those in the lowermost row, are located nearest to thelongitudinal center of the stapling cylinder, the wire feeding heads inthe intermediate row are located longitudinally outside of the lowermostheads, and the wir feeding heads in the upper row are locatedlongitudinally outside of the intermediate wire feeding heads. By thisarrangement the wire feeding heads and components of their drives areofiset, and a wire feeding head in one circumferential row overlapslongitudinally of the cylinder, the adjacent circumferentially spacedwire feeding head.

The wire feeding heads that have driving sprockets 30 on the right handside of their worm gears 21 are right hand feeding heads and areindicated by numeral 2I, while the wire feeding heads that have drivingsprockets at the left hand side of their worm gears 21 are left handwire feeding heads and are indicated by numeral 2 I In the preferredarrangement shown no wire feeding head is adjacent and in longitudinalalignment with another head of the same hand, and staples maysimultaneously be placed much closer together in a row longitudinally ofthe cylinder, thanwhenlikewirefeedingheadsare in longitudinal alignment.Although the arrangement as herein shown provides for three rows eachhaving two wire feeding heads, it will be understood that a differentnumber of rows of wire feeding heads may be disposed circumfer feeddevice having a feed shaft 25 provided with a worm wheel 23 which mesheswith a worm 21 rotatably supported on a shaft or stud 23, and each worm21 has a sprocket 33 which rotates therewith. Each sprocket 33 of thelowermost row of wire feeding heads, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, isdriven preferably by a chain 3|, from a sprocket 32 carried by a commondrive shaft 33 (Figures 2 and 3), which is rotatable in bearings 35formed in or supported by the brackets 22. The sprockets 30 of theintermediate row of wire feeding heads 2| are driven by chains 36 fromdrive sprockets 31 carried by the drive shaft 33, and the sprockets 30of the uppermost row of wire feeding heads 2| are driven through chains38, which are trained around drive sprockets 33 carried by the driveshaft 33.

The drive shaft 33 has a gear 40 secured thereto adjacent one terminal,which gear meshes with an idler gear lI (Figure 2) that is driven by agear 42 carried by the stapling cylinder shaft 20, so that the shaft 33is continuously driven in timed relation to the operation of thestapling cylinder I9, and will feed the correct length of wire requiredfor a staple, during the length of time between successive staplingoperations.

Wires W are fed to the lowermost row of wire feeding heads 2I2I' (Figure2) from wire spools 45 and around pulleys or guide wheels 6. Wires W arefed to theintermediate row of wire feeding heads 2I-2I from wire spoolsl1, and

. wires-W are fed to the uppermost row of wire feeding heads 2I-2I' fromwire spools 48'.

Each wire spool is rotatably supported on pins or studs 50 carried atthe outer terminals of side members 5|, forming a part of a spoolholder. Each spool holder is provided with a split hub 52 that isclamped to a shaft or rod 53 which is supported by suitable members (notshown) that extend from the brace 23. Each split hub is clamped to therod or shaft 53 by a clamp screw 55, so that each spool holder may belocated in any desired longitudinal position along the shaft 53 foralignment with a wire feeding head.

As shown in Figure 6 each wire feeding head 2I-2I is provided with ablock I25 having a wire feed groove I26 and a pair of feed rollers, thefirst of which is shown and indicated by numeral I23, these rollersbeing positioned in alignment with the feed groove I28 to receive a wireW between them. The roller I29 is secured to'a gear I3I and is rotatablysupported on a stud I30. A gear I 3I meshes with a similar gear (notshown) that is secured to the shaft 25, which is behind the stud I30 asseen in Figure 6. The second feeding roller is secured to the shaft 25,and thus when the worm wheel 23 is driven, the wire feed rollers arerotated to feed the wire to and through a groove or notch I11 in thewire guide finger 56, as shown in Figure 5. The finger 56 is pivoted ona pin I19 secured to a bracket I8I supported from the frame, and isbiased by a spring I18. The finger 56 is adjustablebymeans of ascrewI62, which may be looked after adjustment by a nut I63.

The stapling cylinder I9. as shown in Figures 1 and 4 supports a rockshaft 51 having crank arms or levers 58 extending radially therefrom,and a cam roller 60 is rotatably'supported at the outer terminal of thecrank arm and is operably received in a cam groove 6| formed in astationary tions I58 and I58 in order that any stapling plunger may beused with either a right hand or a left hand wire feeding head.

The arm I50 is biased into engagement with an adjusting bolt I52 bymeans of a spring pressed pin I53. Whenacam engaging surface I54 on thearm I50 is engaged by a shoulder I59, the arm I50 which terminates in ashear blade I55, is moved and cuts off a piece of wire, preparatory toforming a staple thereof as hereinafter described.

A grooved wire rest I60 (best shown in Figures and 7), is provided forthe purpose of supporting the severed staple wire and is arranged in thecylinder I9 between the opposed facing projections I58 and I59 on theplunger 65,'which projections are formed with shoulders I6I to engage alength of wire preparatory to forming it into a staple. A hardened lineror horn guide I62 of a horn 66, is accommodated between the facingprojections I58 and I58, the said liner having grooves on both sides asat I64 and I65. The horn 66, which is secured by screws I66 to anysuitable portion of the brace 23 of the stapling machine has plates I61and I68 fastened to the sides thereof, to which tip forming members orfingers I69, I1I are secured by bolts and nuts I12 and I13 respectivelyand act to slightly bend the ends of a formed staple inwardly, tofacilitate clinching. Each of the tip forming members I69 and HI has aninturned flange or cam surface I14 which is received in one of theadjacent grooves I64 arid I65, mentioned above, wherein the oppositeends I15 and I16 of a length of wire, are thrust, and are bent inwardlyby the said flanges I14, as the stapling cylinder I9 carrying theplunger 65 rotates in the direction indicated in Figure 5. a

The stapling cylinder I9 coacts with the adjacent collecting andclinching cylinder I6 for the purpose of clinching the staples insertedin the sheets or products. The operation of cutting, forming and settingthe staples may ,be summarized as follows:

When the stapling cylinder I9 and thecollecting and clinching cylinderI6 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows. each plunger 65moves outward and its cam surfaces I59 engage a cam engaging surface I54and a knife arm I is moved to cause the shear blade I55 to cut off alength of wire that has previously been fed from a wire feeding head2I-2I'. As the facing projections I58-I58' of the adjacent plunger sweeppast the pivoted finger 56, the shoulders I6I pick up the piece of wirethat has just been cut andis lying in the groove I11 of the finger 56.

Further movement of the cylinder I9 will cause an inclined face I84 ofthe horn guide I62, to press the center portion of the staple wireinward between the facing projections I56 and I58, thus forming thestaple, and still-further movement of the cylinder will bring the formedstaple into engagement with the cam surfaces I14 of the tip formingfingers I69 and HI. As a plunger 65 passes the fingers I69 and IN, thecam 6I actin III on the roller 60, causes the plunger to recede slightlyso'the ends of thestaple project beyond the plunger and engage the camsurface I14, bending the tips of the staple as hereinbefore described.

After the plunger 65 has passed beyond the tip forming fingers I69 and"I, it is again projected and guides the wire as it engages the sheetson the clinching cylinder I6. After the staple meets the sheets, theplunger is gradually withdrawn and the staple is pushed through them bythe grooved wire rest I60. The ends of the staple, being thus forcedagainst the clinching cylinder, are bent over aand clinched as they passthe bite of the cylinders I6 and I9. 1

After the clinching is effected, further rotation of the cylinder I9again projects the plunger 65 in preparation for another cycle ofoperation.

After the staples have been set in the associated sheets, these sheetsare carried further around the folding cylinder I6, and then theintermediate portions of the associated sheets are tucked betweenconventional fixed and rockable jaws 10 and 1| carried on the jawcylinder I8 by conventional radially-movable tucking blades 12 carriedby the collecting cylinder I6. The sta'pled and folded sheets afterbeing gripped in the jaws 10 and H of the jaw cylinder I8 are thencarried therearound and taken by grippers 16 on a delivery cylinder 11which carries the products past spaced slitters 13 and 15 (Figure l)which preferably slit the sheets into three products (Figure 3), and theproducts are then carried by the delivery cylinder until they arestripped from it by conventional stripper fingers 18 and deposited on aconveyer belt which conveys the folded and stapled products or books totheir destination. Although the provision of two slitters is thepreferred arrangement, it is understood that a greater number ofslitters may be employed if it is required by the nature of the product.If a greater number of slitters are provided to cut a greater number ofproducts from each web or set of webs, then the disposition of the wirefeeding heads and cooperating components lengthwise of the cooperatingcylinders will accordingly be made.

The sprockets 32, 31 and 39 are each provided with a clutch jaw (Figure3) which is arranged to be engaged by a clutch member 86, mounted on theshaft 33, and each clutch member 86 may be locked into or fromengagement with a clutch jaw 85 by a set screw 81 or other suitablesecuring device.

When it is desired to render one or more of the 5 wire feeding headsinoperative this is readily done feeding heads may be employed to meetthe requirements of the product to be produced.

By offsetting the wire feeding heads in their positional relation aroundthe stapling cylinder, they and their drive and feed components may belocated so that a relatively great number of staples may be inserted inrelatively small products without using a plurality of staplingcylinders.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Having thus described my invention, what I new claim as new and usefulis:

1. Awire stapling mechanism including, a rotatable stapling cylinder, acooperating clinching cylinder around which associated sheets ofmaterial are 'run and between the cooperating cylinders at their bite, aplurality of staple wire feeders positioned immediately adjacent theperiphery of the stapling cylinder and in separate circumferentiallocations around the stapling cylinder with a wire feeder in onecircumferential location overlapping longitudinally of the cylinder theadjacent circumferentially spaced wire feeder, means for severing piecesfrom the wire of each wire feeder, forming the severed pieces of wireinto staples and conveying the staples circumferentially around thestapling cylinder to the bite line between the cooperating cylinders andthere simultaneously setting the staples in alignment into the material.

2. A wire stapling mechanism including, a rotatable stapling cylinder,acooperating clinching cylinder around which associated sheets ofmaterial are run and between the cooperating cylinders at their bite, aplurality of wire feeders positioned in axially aligned rows immediatelyadjacent the periphery of the stapling cylinder and each row beingpositioned in a separate circumferential location around the staplingcylinder with a wire feeder in one circumferential location overlappinglongitudinally of the cylinder the adjacent circumferentially spacedwire feeder, means for severing pieces from the wire of each wirefeeder, forming the severed pieces of wire into staples and conveyingthe staples circumferentially around the stapling cylinder to the biteline between the cooperating cylinders and there simultaneously settingthe staples in alignment into the material.

3. A wire stapling mechanism'including, a rotatable stapling cylinder, acooperating clinching cylinder around which associated sheets ofmaterial are run and between the cooperating cylinders at their bite, aplurality of staple wire feeders positioned immediately adjacent theperiphery of the stapling cylinder and in separate circumferentiallocations around the stapling cylinder with a wire feeder in onecircumferential location overlapping longitudinally of the cylinder theadjacent circumferentially spaced wire feeder, a driven shaft, meansoperably connecting the driven shaft with each wire feeder whereby thefeeders are driven from the common driven shaft, means for severingpieces from the wire of each wire feeder,'forming the severed pieces ofwire into staples and conveying the staples circumferentially around thestapling cylinder to the bite line between the cooperating cylinders andthere simultaneously setting the staples in alignment into the material.

4. A wire stapling mechanism including, a rotatable stapling cylinder,2, cooperating clinching cylinder around which associated sheets ofmaterial are run and between the cooperating cylinders at their bite, a.plurality of staple wire feeders positioned immediately adjacent thepeass-1,504

I ,l i l riphery of the stapling cylinderand in separate circumferentiallocations around the stapling cylinder with a wire feeder in onecircumferential location overlapping longitudinally of the cylinder theadjacent circumferentiallyspaced wire feeder, a driven shaft, meansoperably connecting the common driven shaft with each wire feederwhereby the feeders are driven, means for,

selectively disconnecting the connecting means between the shaft andeach wire feeder so that any selected number of feeders may be driven,

from the shaft, and means for severing pieces from the wire of each wirefeeder, forming the severed pieces of wire into staples and conveyingthe staples circumferentially around the stapling cylinder to the biteline between the cooperating cylinders and there simultaneously settingthe staples in alignment into the material.

5. A wire stapling mechanism including, a rotatable stapling cylindenacooperating clinching cylinder around which associated sheets ofmaterial are run and between the cooperating cylinders at their bite, aplurality of staple wire feeders positioned in axially aligned rowsimmediately adjacent the periphery of the stapling cylinder and each rowbeing positioned in a separate circumferential location around thestapling cylinder with a wire feeder in one circumferential locationoverlapping longitudinally of the cylinder the adjacentcircumferentially spaced wire feeder, a driven shaft, means operablyconnecting the driven shaft with each wire feeder whereby the feedersare driven from the shaft, means for selectively disconnecting theconnecting means between the shaft and each wire feeder so that anyselected number of feeders may be operably driven from the shaft, andmeans for severing pieces from the wire of each wire feeder, forming thesevered pieces into staples and conveying the staples circumferentiallyaround the stapling cylinder to the bite line between the cooperatingcylinders and there simultaneously setting the staples in alignment intothe material.

6. In a rotary stapling mechanism, a stapling cylinder having aplurality of staple forming and driving members arranged tosimultaneously drive a plurality of staples into a product in alignmentlongitudinally of the cylinder, wire supply mechanisms for each of saidmembers spaced circumferentially about the cylinder with a wiresupplymechanism in one circumferential location overlapping longitudinally ofthe cylinder the adjacent circumferentially spaced wire supply mech--anism so that they are positioned to supply staple wire to the saidmembers successively.

7. In a rotary stapling mechanism, a clinching cylinder having aplurality of staple clinching members in alignment longitudinally of thecylinder along its periphery, a stapling cylinder having a plurality ofstaple forming and driving members similarly aligned to coact with theclinching members for simultaneously clinching staples driven into aproduct, a pluralityof fixed wire supply mechanisms spacedcircumferentially about the stapling cylinder with a wire supplymechanism in one circumferential location overlapping longitudinally ofthe cylinder the adjacent circumferentially spaced wire supply mechanismand each in position to supply wire to one of the said members.

8. In a rotary stapling mechanism, a stapling cylinder having a pair ofstaple forming and driving members arranged to simultaneously drive apair of sta ples into a product, a wire supply mechanism to supplystaple wire to each of the drive staples aligned in each passing product15 transversely to the direction of its passing motion, of a staple wiresupply mechanism for each of the said staple forming members and spacedcircumferentially about the stapling cylinder with a wire supplymechanism in one circumferential location overlapping longitudinally ofthe cylinder the adjacent circumferentially-spaced wire supplymechanism, the circumferential location about the stapling cylinder ofthe wire supply mechanisms causing the wire to be supplied to the saidstaple forming members at diiierent circumferential locations so thatthe staples are formed in sequence.

ADOLPH'M. ZUCKERMAN.

